An Unusual, Syncratric, and Quaint Texan
Mar 26, 2021 16:25:32 #
There were few and far between people like Buck Ballew, of Gainesville, Texas. He started and finally became successful as an owner of an oilfield trucking contractor. After World War II, he built his business by providing large trucks for drilling and other oil field activities in Cooke and surrounding counties in Texas.
Before the days when Buck had become widely recognized and known for his flamboyant ways, he appeared in faded blue overalls at a new truck dealership in Fort Worth. He wasn’t recognized and his plain cornbread country attire did not cause him to be recognized as a potential buyer of anything more expensive than a can of Prince Albert tobacco. So, the salesmen ignored him.
Finally, Buck asked to see the store manager. Upon meeting him, Buck asked if any of the trucks on the showroom floor were for sale. Upon being told they all were for sale, Buck said he would take one of each.
Then when asked how he planned to pay for the trucks, Buck pulled out a roll of bills from the bib of his overalls and paid cash. From then on he was quickly recognized and accommodated for being a big spender and a top customer of the dealership.
Now Lake Texoma was completed in 1944 and by the 1950’s was a top recreational boating location for many. Buck was among the lot and had a Chris Craft yacht of around 30 feet in
a slot on Big Mineral arm of the lake. However, this wasn’t big enough to satisfy his ego, so he ordered another Chris Craft Yacht more suitable, which was between 64 and 76 feet long. Now this yacht required special permission in every state it had to be brought through from Michigan to Texas. More than one state gave their permission begrudgingly but said don’t ever come back again!
While the yacht was being constructed, Buck was busy having a much bigger boat shed to be constructed. Upon arrival, this monster yacht was quite an event. It was then docked in its special building but that night the floatation tanks that held the building up filled with water and sank, all of which crushed the flying bridge of the yacht. It had to be taken out of the water and hauled to Lake Dallas so the bridge could be repaired. It was found that one of Buck’s welders had been putting some finishing touches to the barn and had the caps of the floatstion tanks off and had forgotten to put them back in place. That night waves lapping over the floatation tanks and filled them with water causing the entire structure to sink down on top of Buck’s yacht!
The smaller, 30-foot Christ Craft yacht he gave to Eddie, his son. Now this yacht was arguable as big as any others on Lake Texoma! Eddie and I were approximately the same age, and both were students at University of North Texas. Eddie had two new convertibles, a Cadillac and a Lincoln. He seemed like he as a loner and did not have many friends, be seemed to be a likeable chap to me. Just Sayin….RJS
Before the days when Buck had become widely recognized and known for his flamboyant ways, he appeared in faded blue overalls at a new truck dealership in Fort Worth. He wasn’t recognized and his plain cornbread country attire did not cause him to be recognized as a potential buyer of anything more expensive than a can of Prince Albert tobacco. So, the salesmen ignored him.
Finally, Buck asked to see the store manager. Upon meeting him, Buck asked if any of the trucks on the showroom floor were for sale. Upon being told they all were for sale, Buck said he would take one of each.
Then when asked how he planned to pay for the trucks, Buck pulled out a roll of bills from the bib of his overalls and paid cash. From then on he was quickly recognized and accommodated for being a big spender and a top customer of the dealership.
Now Lake Texoma was completed in 1944 and by the 1950’s was a top recreational boating location for many. Buck was among the lot and had a Chris Craft yacht of around 30 feet in
a slot on Big Mineral arm of the lake. However, this wasn’t big enough to satisfy his ego, so he ordered another Chris Craft Yacht more suitable, which was between 64 and 76 feet long. Now this yacht required special permission in every state it had to be brought through from Michigan to Texas. More than one state gave their permission begrudgingly but said don’t ever come back again!
While the yacht was being constructed, Buck was busy having a much bigger boat shed to be constructed. Upon arrival, this monster yacht was quite an event. It was then docked in its special building but that night the floatation tanks that held the building up filled with water and sank, all of which crushed the flying bridge of the yacht. It had to be taken out of the water and hauled to Lake Dallas so the bridge could be repaired. It was found that one of Buck’s welders had been putting some finishing touches to the barn and had the caps of the floatstion tanks off and had forgotten to put them back in place. That night waves lapping over the floatation tanks and filled them with water causing the entire structure to sink down on top of Buck’s yacht!
The smaller, 30-foot Christ Craft yacht he gave to Eddie, his son. Now this yacht was arguable as big as any others on Lake Texoma! Eddie and I were approximately the same age, and both were students at University of North Texas. Eddie had two new convertibles, a Cadillac and a Lincoln. He seemed like he as a loner and did not have many friends, be seemed to be a likeable chap to me. Just Sayin….RJS
Mar 26, 2021 17:21:56 #
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